Background Information on the Puritans 1492 Christopher Columbus lands in the Bahamas 1607 – Jamestown established 1620-Pilgrims land 1636-Harvard College founded

Who were the Puritans?  From England  Struggled for years to purify the church of England  Influences  Martin Luther who believed men are inherently evil and God is omnipotent  John Calvin who believed in predestination-belief that your afterlife has already been determined before birth  Believed in original sin, the consequences of sin, and that man sinning was inevitable because of Adam and Eve’s sin  Believed that hard work leads them to virtue  Feared wrath of God and His divine providence in their lives, both physical and eternal

Why did the Puritans seek permanent settlement in the Colonies? Many suffered from physical religious persecution –Physical mutilation- noses slit, ears cut, burnings –Thrown in jail Freedom to practice religion –Sought to simplify and purify the church –Model directly after God’s word –Create a “new Eden” –No intermediary between the individual and God

Pilgrims (A.K.A. Separatists)- Plymouth, Massachusetts 1620-A small group of Europeans sailing from England on the Mayflower. These passengers were religious reformers who were critical of the Church of England. Having given up hope from purifying the church from within, they chose instead to withdraw from the church- earning the name SEPERATISTS (a.k.a.-Pilgrims). The Separatists established a settlement at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. With the help of the natives, the pilgrims were able to survive the harshness of North America. Eventually, Plymouth was engulfed by the Mass. Bay Colony, a much larger settlement to the north.

Belief system of the Puritans Idea that humans exist for the glory of God and the Bible is the sole expression of God’s will. Believed in predestination-John Calvin’s doctrine that God has already decided who will achieve salvation and who will not. Nevertheless, those who are to be saved cannot take their salvation for granted. Thus, all devout Puritans consistently search their souls for signs of grace.

Characteristics of Puritan Literature Diaries and histories important because they were records of workings of God Saw direct connections between Biblical events and their own lives Written in plain style- way of writing that emphasizes simple sentences and the use of every day words from common speech An ornate or clever style of writing would be a sign of vanity and, as such, would not be in accordance with God’s will.

Puritans and education The Puritans had a strong belief in education for both men and women Puritans founded Harvard College to ensure a well educated ministry Puritans set up their first printing press in the colonies Free public schools were established in Mass First primer is published: Combined instruction in spelling and reading with moralistic teachings, such as “In Adam’s Fall/We Sinned All.” Bay Psalms Book-One of the first books printed in the colonies.

Lecture Notes: Puritan Writing Unlike most of us today, Puritans had few possessions, dressed uniformly, and frowned on creative expression. Because they left so little behind, they remain a mystery. Poetry, Diaries/Histories, Sermons The Puritan Plain Style The Puritan plain style of writing reflects their plain style of living: Sparse, Simple and Straightforward. The Puritan Plain Style is characterized by short words, direct statements, and reference to everyday, ordinary objects. For Example, poetry should serve God by clearly expressing only useful or religious ideas – poetry appealing to the senses or emotion is dangerous.

Names / Terms to Know… John Smith William Bradford Anne Bradstreet Edward Taylor Jonathan Edwards Mary Rowlandson William Byrd ApostropheConceit Plain style

John Smith / William Bradford Smith helped to establish the first English settlement in America He also was a famous explorer responsible for mapping much of New England Bradford lead the Puritans to Massachusetts He was elected governor by the Pilgrims He is credited with helping the early Pilgrims survive

Edward Taylor / Anne Bradstreet He was educated both in England and in America at Harvard He is considered the best colonial poet. He was a highly religious man Came to America with her husband at the age of 18 Her works were published without her consent by her brother-in-law She is the most famous woman poet of the period

Mary Rowlandson Captured by indians during a raid… Provides an account of her experiences- “Narrative of the Captivity” -attempts to show God’s purpose / work in her life, even in midst of such horrible and difficult circumstances

The Great Awakening A series of Puritan religious revivals led by such people as Jonathan Edwards- “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”- (Sermon used as motivation by Edwards as revivals swept through colonies around 1720.)

Southern Writers Most southern writing was of a practical nature but unlike the Puritan writers, southerners did not oppose fiction or drama. As such, in… John Smith-The leader of the settlement at Jamestown. He wrote The General History of Virginia to describe his experience. William Byrd-The Planter from Westover William Byrd was the predominant writer from the pre-revolutionary south. Byrd lived in Westover, a magnificent plantation on the James River given to him by his father. Byrd was commissioned to survey the dividing line between Virginia and N. Carolina. He kept a running journal which served as the basis for his humorous book, The History of the Dividing Line, a story about a man from the north of England who out of curiosity explored the Dismal swamp, where Byrd later did his surveying.